Carton



O. L. VINES July 21, 1959 CARTON Filed Oct. 25, 1954 s Re %s mw wm m. mvL umm mr. T o A C. s GYM, B

CARTON Oscar L. Vines, New York, N.Y., assignor to Continental PaperCompany, Ridgefield Park, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationOctober 25, '1954, Serial No. 464,385

4 claims. (cl. 229-28) This invention relates to partitioned cartonsuseful as carriers for perishable articles.

In my Patent No. 2,775,390, issued December 25, 1956, there is describedand claimed a partitioned carton particularly adapted to the packagingof fruitsv such as apples' and peaches. This carton is so constructed asto individually support and cradle a number of apples or peaches or thelike arranged in two parallel rows. Actual field tests have demonstratedthat the carton is wholly satisfactory under normal conditions, and testshipments of several truck loads of these cartons loaded withtreeripened peaches arrived at their marketing destination without anydamage whatsoever.

In the packaging of peaches, however, it is becoming common practice totreat the peaches with an aqueous treating solution to inhibit moldgrowth on the surface of the fruit. In the aforementioned field tests,the peaches were loaded in the cartons each of which held two rows offour peaches each. The lfilled cartons were then stood on end and weredrenched with the fruit-treating solution in suflicient amount to insurethorough treatment of each peach. After the thus-treated lled cartonshad drained, they were transferred to a truck where they were againstacked on end and shipped to market. This drastic treatment of the wetand loaded carton tended to cause warping of the carton, and there was apronounced tendency toward sagging of the lower fold section of eachcarton compartment which bore the weight of the peach in eachcompartment.

In order to provide a partitioned carton capable of supporting articlessuch as peaches and apples in spite of complete immersion in a treatingliquid, or exposure to rain, I have devised a partitioned cartonstructure which will fully support the articles and resist warping evenwhen the carton is thoroughly wet. The carton of my present inventioncomprises a bottom panel, a pair of side panels extending upwardly fromthe side extremities of the bottom panel, a main interior partitionpanel parallel to the side panels and extending upwardly from thecentral portion of the bottom panel, and a pair of top panels overlyingthe bottom panel and extendingl inwardly from the upper extremities ofthe side panels. One of the top panels is connected to the upperextremity of the main partition panel, and the other top panel isconnected to a reinforcing partition panelwhich is joined along itsdistal longitudinal edge to the mainpartition panel. Each of the toppanels is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs offold sections each pair of which is defined (a) by a transverse cut lineextending across the top panel and into the upper portion of theadjoining respective side wall and partitioned panels and (b) by a pairof oppositely bowed transverse fold lines similarly extending across thetop panel and communicating at their ends with the lateral extremitiesof the transverse cut line.

These and other novel features of the partitioned 'carton of myinvention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which l ice Fig. lis a plan view of the blank from which mynew carton is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank ofFig'. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carton' shown in Fig. 2 in its fullyopened condition; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a jig for openingv the carton of Fig. 2into the form shown in Fig. 3.

The partitioned carton of my present invention is formed from the blankshown in Fig. 1. Proceeding serially from` left to right in Fig. 1, theblank comprises a glue panel 5, a main interior partition panel 6, afirst top panel 7, a first side wall panel 8, a bottom panel 9, a secondside wall panel 10, a second top panel 11, and a reinforcing partitionpanel 12. Each of the top panels is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced pairs 0f fold sections 13 and 14. Each pair offold sections 13 and 14 is defined (a) by a transverse cut line 15extending across the top panel and into the adjacent portions of theadjoining respective side wall and partitioned panels and (b) yby apairof oppositely bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17 similarlyextending across the top panel and communicating at their ends with thelateral extremities of the transverse cut line 15. 'For example, eachtransverse cut line 15 extending across the top panel 7 further extendsa substantial distance into the adjoining portions of the main partitionpanel 6 and of the first side wall panel 8, and the bowed transversefold lines 16 and 17 are positioned on opposite sides of the cut line 15and communicate at their ends with the extremities of the cut line 15.In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, each bowed lineextending across a top panel consists of two straight score linesobliquely intersecting at the center of the top panel. Regardless ofwhether the fold lines 16 and 17 are straight or curved, the terminalportions of these lines advantageously consist of a cut line 18 arrangednormal tor the cut line 15 at the extremities thereof. The fold sections13 and 14 are similarly dened in the top panel 11 by the transverse cutline 15 and the bowed transverse cut lines 16 and 17 communicating attheir ends with the extremities of the cut line 15 which extends asubstantial distance into the adjoining portions of the second side wallpanel 10 and of the reinforcing partition panel 12. It should be notedthat the transverse cut line 15 does not extend more than about halfwayacross the reinforcing partition panel 12 so that the distallongitudinal edge portion 19 of this panel may serve as a glue panel.

The carton blank is advantageously further provided with the otherfeatures described in my aforementioned application and including acentrally divided handle ap 2i) and knock-out openings 21 positioned inthe bottom panel, and substantially yoke-shaped cut lines 22 and 23positioned in the fold sections 13 and 14 adjacent the apexes of thebowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17, respectively. The yoke-shaped cutlines are so positioned on Ieach fold section that the arch of the yokelies opposite and extends in a direction opposite to the arch formed bythe oblique intersection of the straight fold lines comprising thetransverse fold lines 16 and 17. Thus, the arch of each yoke-shaped cutdefines a tab extending over each cell of 'the carton when the carton isopened by folding the fold sections 13 and 14 downwardly into thecarton.

In assembling the partitioned carton of my invention from the blankshown in Fig. 1, a waterproof adhesive is applied directly under theshaded area 24 on the bottom panel 9 and along the shaded area 25 on thetop surface of the distal edge portion of the reinforcing partitionpanel 12. The blank is then folded tudin'al fold lines 26, 27, 28, 29,30, 31 and 32 so that the glue panel 5 is brought in juxtaposition tothe adabout its longil' hesive-covered area 24 on the bottom panel andso that the adhesive-covered area `25 of the reinforcing partition panel12 is brought into contact With the central longitudinal portionV ofthel main partition panel 6 Vas shown in Fig. 2. Although the cartonhaslbeenshown in Fig. 2 in its erected form, it will normallybe'assembled in its liat folded condition andthenerected ubythe.

user into the form shown in Fig. 2.

The cellular partitions in the'erectedcarton are formedV carton can beopened readily by hand. Using'either procedure, the fold sections 13 and14- of each pair thereof are folded downwardly and divergently inwardlyinto the interior of the carton. As the fold sections are forceddownwardly, the portion of each fold sectionV along the longitudinalfold lines 27 and 28 (or 31 and 32, as the case may be) snaps downwardlyinto a folded position which is the reverse of its starting position.This snap-folding action is facilitated by the provision of obliquescore lines 33 and 34 extending from the intersection of thelongitudinal fold lines 27 and 28 (for example) with the transverse foldlines'16 and 17, respectively, to the inboard portion of the transversecut line 15.

When the jig of my invention, which is shown in Fig. 4, is used inopening the set-upcarton, the carton in the form shown in Fig. 2 isplaced in contact with guide members 35 of the jig. The openings 21 inthe bottom panel of the carton will then be aligned with pins 36 struckup from a jig base 37. The pins 36, though not as high as the guidemembers 35, are of suficient height so that they extend upwardly thefull height of the interior of the carton so as to support the portions38 of the top panel adjacent the fold sections 13 and 14. Thus, theseportions 38 of the top panel are supported while the fold sections 134and 14 are being forced downwardly into the interior of the carton.

When the fold sections 13 and 14 assume their final positions as shownin Fig. 3, the oblique fold lines 33 and 34 contribute to the roundedcontour of each fold section so as to`provide substantially full-surfacecontact and support for an article positioned within each cell. It willalso be observed that the movement of the fold sections 13 and 14 aboutthe bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17 causes the residual portionsof the top panels to assume an arched contour. In spite of the tensionwhich this imparts to the carton structure, the freedom of thereinforcing partition panel 12 to draw away from the top portion of theadjoining main partitionI panel 6 permits fold sections 13 and 14 toassume the aforementioned rounded contour. Moreover, -if the `articlein-any cell is slightly larger than the size for which .thecarton wasdesigned, the fold sections of each cell are capable of being displacedfurther apartV longitudinally of the carton by virtue of the spring-likeresilience of the adjacent but unconnected upper portions ofthereinforcing partition panel 12 and the main partition panel 6.Nevertheless, theportion of the reinforcing partition panel 12adhesively secured to the main partition panel 6 serves to strengthenthe latter and further serves to anchor the inboard end of each of thefold sections 13 and 14 to the main partition panel. Thus, the entirecentral portionvof the carton is reinforced vand :thezinboard ends ofthe fold sections are fullysupportedwhen the filled carton is upended.

It will also beobserved that the bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17extend completelyacrossl 'the-'central portion of each toppanelandconverge orwsubstantially touch `one another. centrally ofl :thetop panel- -knobs fde'ff lined by the yoke-shaped cut lines 22 and 23. Ihave found that the provision of the bowed fold lines 16 and 17 acrossthese knobs renders them more resilient to inward deflection foradmission of an article into each compartment while nevertheless firmlyresisting outward deflection which would otherwise permit the article tofall out of its compartment lwhen the carton is upended or overturned.

The resulting carton structure of my invention is thereforeAparticularly adapted to withstand the strains imposed upon itv when theloaded carton is completely wetted by a treating solution or by rain andthus resists any tendency .for the carton to warp and for the wet foldsections to fail to cradle and support the article positioned in eachcell.l

I claim:

l. A partitioned carton comprising a bottom panel, a'pair of sidepanels'extending ,upwardly from the side extremities of the bottompanel, .a main interior partition. panel parallelito the side panels andextending upwardly from thev central portion of the bottom panel, and apair of toppanels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly.from the upper extremities of the side panels, one `of the top panelsbeing connected to the upper extremity of the mainpartition panel andthe other top ypanel beingconnected to a reinforcing partitionpanelwhich is joined only along its distal longitudinal edge to a portion ofthe main partition panel below the line 'along which the proximate toppanel is connected, each of the top panels being provided with aplurality of '-longitudinallyspaced pairs of fold sections each pair ofwhich is -delined (a) by a transverse cut line extending across the toppanel and into the upper portion of the adjoiningrespective side walland partition panels and `(b) by a pair of oppositely bowed transversefold lines similarly extendingV across the top panel and communicatingattheir ends with the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line.

2. A partitioned carton comprising a bottom panel, a pair of side panelsextending vupwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, amain Ainterior partition panel parallel to the side panels and extendingupwardlyfrom thecentral portion ofthe bottom panel, and a pair of toppanels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly from the upperextremities of the side panels with which they are integrally connected,one of the top panelsbeing integrally connected to the upper extremityof the main partition panel and the other top panel beingintegrallyconnected to a reinforcing partition panel `which is joined only alongits distal longitudinal edge to` a substantially central longitudinalportion of themain partition panel, each of the top panels being.provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of foldsections each pair of which is defined '(a) .by a transverse cut lineextending across the top panel and into the upper portion of theadjoining respective side wall and partition panels and (b) by va pairof oppositely bowed transverse fold lines similarly extending across thetop panel and communicating at their ends withI the lateral extremitiesof the transverse cut line.

3. A partitioned' carton Vcomprising a bottom panel, a pair of sidepanels extending upwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel,a main interior partition panel parallel to the side panels andextending upwardly from the central portion of the bottom panel, and apair of top panels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardlyfrom.. the upper extremities of the side panels, oneof the top panelsbeing connected to the upper extremity' ofthe main partition panel andtheother 'top panel.` being connected to a reinforcing partition panelwhich is joined only along its distal longitudinal edge vto -a-portionofthe main partition panel below-'theline-along which lthe proximate toppanel is connected,i eacliof 'fthe topgpanels being provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of fold sections each pair ofwhich is defined (a) by a transverse out line extending across the toppanel and into the upper portion of the adjoining respective side walland partition panels and (b) by a pair of oppositely bowed transversefold lines each composed of two straight but obliquely intersectingscore lines collectively extending across the top panel andcommunicating at their ends with the lateral extremities of thetransverse cut line.

4. A partitioned carton comprising a bottom panel, a pair of side panelsextending upwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, a maininterior partition panel parallel to the side panels and extendingupwardly from the central portion of the bottom panel, and a pair of toppanels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly from the upperextremities of the side panels, one of the top panels being connected tothe upper extremity of the main partition panel and the other top panelbeing connected to a reinforcing partition panel which is joined alongits distal longitudinal edge to the main partition panel, each of thetop panels4 being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedpairs of fold sections each pair of which is defined (a) by a transversecut line extending across the top panel and into the upper portion ofthe adjoining respective side wall and partition panels and (b) by apair of opi positely bowed transverse fold lines each composed of twostraight but obliquely intersecting score lines collectively extendingacross the top panel and communicating at their ends with the lateralextremities of the transverse cut line, each fold section being providedwith a yoke-shaped cut line so positioned that the arch of the yoke liesopposite and extends in a direction opposite to the arch formed by theintersection of the aforementioned two straight score lines.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,010,683 Williams Aug. 6, 1935 2,015,278 Meyer Sept. 24, 1935 2,385,401Buttery Sept. 25, 1945 2,525,125 Goodyear Oct. 10, 1950 2,527,702Buttery Oct. 31, 1950 2,540,065 Williamson Ian. 30, 1951 2,586,551Mobley Feb. 19, 1952 2,690,866 Kirby Oct. 5, 1954 2,717,115 Vines Sept.6, 1955 2,717,116 Vines Sept. 6, 1955 2,775,391 Vines Dec. 25, 1956FOREIGN PATENTS 373,393 Great Britain May 26, 1932

